DoT warns Blackberry service providers on security system

Having come under scanner for security lapses in the use of Blackberry services, the government has issued a stern warning to telecom companies to put the required security system in place within 15 days or stop the services. The directive has been issued to the respective service providers to work out with officials of Blackberry licensor Research in Motion (RIM) of Canada to provide full-proof security system in the country, senior officials in the Department of Telecom (DoT) said.

If the services were stopped, over four lakh users of Blackberry would not be able to use this premium service which enables users to access e-mail in the form of SMS.

The DoT Secretary had recently said that the government was keen to resolve the matter at the earliest.

When contacted RIM, licensor of Blackberry services, spokesperson told PTI that RIM operates in more than 130 countries around the world and respects the regulatory requirements of governments. RIM does not comment on confidential regulatory matters or speculation on such matters in any given country.

Telecom Minister A Raja had also said that security of nation was of paramount concern and this would not be sacrificed at any cost.

C-DoT, a technical wing of DoT, has the monitoring capabilities provided the licensor puts the server in India enabling interception of contents of e-mails, if required, on the Blackberry handsets.

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